twsanborn - 2011 India 6 CD

Technology-

Water wheels powered by cattle was one form of irrigation used, among several that had developed in the Mauryan Empire
Throughout the Mauryan Empire, there was just one unified form of weights and measurements used by everyone
When Asoka was the ruler of the Mauryan Empire, a university and library were built in the capital city of the Empire, along with temples, towers, parks, and palaces
India was very good at producing many weapons in armories for the army
Equipment and weapons used by Mauryan Army: Indian bow: 5-6 feet long, made of bamboo, fired a long cane arrow whose tip was either made out of metal or bone, able to go through any armor, Also used composite bow called sarnga
At the time of the Mauryan Empire, India had most of the ancient world's artillery equipment, like catapults and battling rams

This drawing represents a water wheel, which was a form of irrigation used in India at the time of the Mauryan Empire

A coin from the Gupta Empire depicting Candra Gupta I

Economy-

During the high point of the Mauryan Empire, when Asoka, who succeeded Gupta's son, Bindusara, was the new ruler of the Empire, the activity of the civilization's economy increased greatly. As a result, both domestic and foreign trade increased, causing India to become rich. Also, Pataliputra (which was the capital city of the Empire at the time), turned into a major international cultural center
During Candra Gupta Maurya's reign, there was one form of currency that was used by everyone
India was very rich in gold and metal
Pataliputra was probably the most prosperous city in the world- it included schools and a library
India was, and still is, very rich in precious resources, including spices, diamonds, saphires, gold, pearls, and admirable woods, such as ebony, teak, and fragrant sandalwood-trade of these resources with places like Africa and Sumeria started over 4,000 years ago and continued throughout and even after the Mauryan Empire
There were many trade routes that ran through the Gupta Empire in the year 400 C.E.
India had many sea-trading partners, including:

Africa-they traded cotton cloth for African ivory and gold
Arabia-exchanged their rice and wheat for horses and dates from Arabia
China (with whom trade increased after trade with Rome decreased-around 3rd century C.E.)-again, exchanged their cotton cloth, as well as various animals such as monkeys, parrots, and elephants for Chinese silk

Results of trade-banking in India went up, due to all of the trade going on with other countries
Because trade increased so much, banking went up in India and, therefore, bankers began to loan merchants money and charge them interest rates, which were different depending on how risky and dangerous overseas trade was at the time:

Mauryan Empire- Overseas trade was considered very risky and, as a result, bankers charged 240% interest on loans per year
Gupta Empire- Trade was not considered as dangerous, therefore interest rates went down to only about 15-20% annually

http://ancienthistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/1483888?terms=maurya+and+gupta+trade
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Ancient World History textbook
http://ancienthistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/595889?terms=maurya+and+gupta+economy